Bed structures



P 7, 1965 w. J. DUPERRON 3,204,257

BED STRUCTURES Filed M y 7, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WILFRED J- DUPERRON Sept. 7, 1965 w. J. DUPERRON BED STRUCTURES Filed May 7, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 s5 is 5 73 77 A 75 INVENTOR J. DUPERRON BY I I I a4.

RTTORNEY WILFRED 3,204,257 BED STRUCTURES Wilfred J. Duperron, 171 Yale Road 13., Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada Filed May 7, 1962, Ser. No. 193,366 9 Claims. (Cl. -239) This invention relates to bed structures, and particularly the portions of beds which support persons directly thereon or support mattresses upon which people lie.

By experimentation it has been found that some persons are benefited by lying with the heads inclined downwardly a little for at least short periods. This has led to the present invention which includes a supporting structure for beds having a head section which a person may incline downwardly relative to the remainder of the support when desired. The head section can be raised and lowered when desired, or it may be shifted to a downwardly inclined position from which it gradually returns to the horizontal over a predetermined period of time.

A bed structure according to the present invention comprises a body supporting structure having an upper supporting surface throughout said structure and including a main section and a head section at one end thereof. A person lying on the supporting structure has his body on the main section thereof and his head resting on the head section. The structure may be of such construction that the person lies directly on it, or he may lie on a mattress extending over the supporting structure. In this case, the mattress in effect has a main section and a head section positioned on the main and head sections respectively of the supporting structure. The head section of the supporting structure is swingable between positions retaining the supporting surface thereof substantially parallel with and downwardly inclined relative to the, main section supporting surface. The bed structure includes means for selectively retaining the head section in the parallel and the downwardly inclined positions.

Examples of this invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation, form of bed structure;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of this structure, with part thereof broken away;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view, partly in section, of an alternative form of bed structure;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged section taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of another alternative form of bed structure; and

FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic layout of the hydraulic system of the bed structure of FIGURE 7.

Referring to FIGURES 1 to 3, 10 is a preferred form of bed structure according to this invention. It is mainly made according to standard practice, but it includes a head section which may be tilted or inclined downwardly relative to the main part of the structure.

The bed structure 10 is in the form of a box spring unit made up of a standard bottom frame 17 having spaced cross slats 18 extending between and secured to the sides of the frame. A plurality of coil springs 20 are carried by frame 17 and slats 18 according to standard practice, and these springs are retained within a casing 22 usually formed of cloth, said casing having a peripheral wall 24 and an upper surface 25 upon which a person lies or upon which a mattress is placed.

partly in section, of one United States Patent 0 Patented Sept. '7, 1985 For the purpose of this invention, 15 is a body supporting structure, and the main portion thereof is considered a main section 28, while the remainder at one end thereof is considered a head section 29. Cover 25 is an upper surface throughout structure 15 for supporting a person lying on the latter.

The interior of structure 15 is changed in head section 29 from the normal construction of devices of this nature, although from outward appearances, it may look the same. Head section 29, that is, the upper supporting surface 31 thereof, is swingable between positions with said supporting surface substantially parallel with the main section supporting surface, as shown in FIGURE 1, and a downwardly inclined position relative to said main supporting surface. To this end, a panel 35 is mounted within head section 29 and extends substantially from side to side thereof. This panel has a lower edge 37 slidably resting on the sides of frame 17, and it is inclined upwardly therefrom so that its upper edge 38 is near but preferably spaced below supporting surface 31 of the head section. Coil .springs 40 are mounted on and project upwardly from panel 35 and are of such size to maintain the part of cover 25 which forms supporting surface 31 substantially parallel with the remainder of the cover. One or more coil springs 43 are mounted on the adjacent end of frame 17 and normally support panel 35 in its inclined position. Two or more springs 45 are each secured at one end at 46 to panel 35 near its lower edge 37, and at its opposite end at 47 to the end of frame 17. These springs tend to draw the panel in the direction of the adjacent end of structure 15 to help hold the cloth casing thereof in shape.

It will be seen that panel 35 is resiliently retained in an inclined position. However, it may be swung downwardly against the pressure of spring 43, at which time, the upper supporting surface 31 of head section 29 will be inclined downwardly relative to the rest of casing cover 25. If desired, a guide 50 may be provided on each side of frame 17 adjacent but over the lower edge 37 of panel 35 to permit said edge to slide along the sides of frame 17 while preventing said edge from being lifted upwardly.

As stated above, springs 40, 43 and 45 keep panel 35 in the normally inclined position and, therefore, the supporting surface 31 in a normally horizontal position. Means is provided for drawing the upper edge 38 of panel 35 downwardly and to retain it in any one of several lower positions with surface 31 inclined downwardly at different angles relative to the surface of main section 28. In this example, a cable 53 is anchored at 54 at one end to panel 35 near its upper edge. This cable travels around a pulley 56 carried by the adjacent end of frame 17 and around another pulley 57 carried by one of the slats 18 and out to a side of frame 17. In this example, cable 53 has a ring 59 on its outer end, and said cable extends around another pulley 61 carried by the side of frame 17 so that ring 59 may be placed over a selected one of several hooks 62 on said frame side.

If a person wishes to use said structure 10 in the normal way, ring 59 is placed on a hook 652 which allows the springs around panel 35 to retain it in its normal incline-d position with supporting surface 31 of head section 29 substantially parallel with the surface of main section 28. If a person wishes to sleep with his head inclined downwardly a little, he shifts ring 59 to an appropriate hook 62, and this through cable 53 draws the upper edge 38 of panel 35 downwardly to move surface 31 into a downwardly inclined position. In order to return head section 29 to its normal position, it is only necessary to free ring 59 from its hook 62.

FIGURES 4, S and 6 illustrate an alternative form of bed structure 65. This may be mainly any desired conpression.

3 struction, such as that shown in FIGURES 1 to 3, but a different construction has been illustrated to show that the invention may be incorporated in different forms of bed structure. Bed structure 65 consists of a body supporting structure 68 which includes a rectangular metal frame 70 having slat springs 71 extending between and resiliently supported by the sides of said frame. The only difference in supporting structure 68 from standard structures of this type is that the frame is broken at 73 to form a head section 75 which is normally substantially parallel with the main supporting section 76. Head section 75 is hingedly connected to main section 76 in any convenient manner. In this example, links 77 fixedly secured to the sides of frame 70 overlap the sides of head section 75, and each is connected to said head section by a pivot pin 78. Suitable means is provided for normally retaining section 75 substantially parallel with section 76. In this example, a

.curved leaf spring 80 extends between the adjacent portions of each of the two sides of the head and main sections, see FIGURE 5. At each spring 80, stops 83 and 84 are secured to .the sides of sections 75 and 76 and rest on said spring and retain the latter under a degree of com- A stop 86 fixedly secured at 87 to frame 70 extends over a portion of the side of the frame of head section 75 to prevent said section from swinging upwardly beyond the horizontal under the influence of springs 80. In other words, springs 80 resiliently support the head section in its normally horizontal position.

With this arrangement, head section 75 may be depressed or inclined downwardly against the compression of springs 80 and relative to main section 76. Suitable means has been provided for retaining said head section in different downwardly inclined position-s. Transverse braces 90 and 91 extend between the sides of head section 75 and main section 76 adjacent but spaced from the break 73 therebetween. A rack bar 93 is pivotally connected at 94 to an arm 95 projecting downwardly from brace 90. The opposite end of bar 93 extends through a vertical slot 97 in a plate 98 suspended from brace 91, said slot having a lower edge 99. Bar 93 is formed with ratchet teeth 101 along its lower edge adapted to engage the lower edge 99 of slot 97 to prevent said bar from moving in the direction of arrow 103 in FIGURE 6 while permitting said bar to be moved in the opposite direction. Suitable means is provided for lifting bar 93 clear of edge 99 of plate 98 so that said bar may be moved in the opposite direction. In this example, a cam 106 is mounted immediately beneath the lower edge of bar 93 adjacent .the free end thereof, said cam being mounted on the shaft 107 of a crank 108 which is located outside a side of frame 70.

As stated above, head section 75 is normal-1y retained in a substantially horizontal position. The teeth 101 of bar 93 are arranged to permit the head section to be swung downwardly against the tension of springs 80, but by engaging plate edge 99, the teeth normally prevent said head section from being swung upwardly back towards the horizontal position. When it is desired to free the head section, crank 108 is turned to turn cam 106 which lifts bar teeth 101 clear of edge 99, at which time the bar is free to move in the direction of arrow 103 so that springs 80 return head section 75 to the horizontal position. Thus, the head section is swung downwardly to an inclined position by hand, and is returned to the horizontal by the springs when crank 108 is turned to free bar 93 from plate edge 99.

FIGURES 7 and 8 illustrate another alternative bed structure 65a which has a different mechanism for controlling the downward incline of head section 75. Otherwise, the construction is the same. In structure 65a, instead of rack bar 93 and its associated elements, a hydraulic cylinder 115 is pivotally mounted at 116 on cross brace 91. This cylinder has a piston rod extending outwardly from an end thereof which is pivotally connected at 118 to cross brace 90 f the head section. A small hydraulic pump 120 is mounted on a side of frame 70 and is operatably connected to cylinder 115. One or two by-passes are provided in the piping connecting cylinder 115 and pump 120. In this example, there are two by-passes, and a relief valve 122 is located in one by-pass and a bleed valve 124 is located in the other by-pass, said valves being mounted on the side of frame 70 near pump 120.

FIGURE 8 diagrammatically illustrates the hydraulic system incorporating the relief and bleed valves. Springs normally retain head section 75 in a horizontal posit-ion substantially parallel with main section 76. When it is desired to incline the head section downwardly, pump 120 'is operated to draw rod 117 into cylinder which swings the head section downwardly. The head section remains in any position to which it is moved by the pump. If it is desired to allow the head section to swing back to its normal horizontal position, valve 122 is operated .to by-pas-s pump so that the section is free t swing upwardly. If it is desired to allow the head section to swing upwardly over a period of time, valve 124 is used. This valve provides a bleed in the by-pass around pump 120 which may be set to allow hydraulic fluid to pass therethrough at diflferent rates. The rate of flow through the bleed valve determines the length of time it a position to permit free fiow of the hydraulic fluid therethrough. Furthermore, both of these valves may be omitted and a reversing valve included so that the pump can be used to pump the head section in both the up and down directions.

With the arrangement of FIGURES 7 and 8, a person going to bed could set bleed valve 124 to permit the head section to swing upwardly over a predetermined period, say, for example, 2 or 3' hours. He could then go to sleep with his' head in a downwardly inclined position, and it would be restored to its normal position during the pre-set time.

What I claim is:

1. A bed structure comprising a main section having springs therein for supporting the body of a person lying thereon, a head section at an end of the main section and swingable downwardly relative thereto and having springs therein for supporting the head of said person, and means in the head section and co-operating with the springs therein for selectively supporting the head section substantially in the plane of the main section or in a position inclined downwardly therefrom.

2. A bed structure comprising a main section having and upper supporting surface and springs in the section for supporting the body of a person lying on said supporting surface, a head section at an end of the main secand holdingthe supporting surface of said head section to support the head of said person, resilient means normally retaining the panel in its inclined position with the head section supporting surface substantially parallel with the supporting surface of the main section, the supporting surface of said head section being depressible into a downwardly inclined position by swinging the panel in a downward direction, and means for releasably retaining the panel in a position with the head section supporting surface downwardly inclined.

3. A bed structure comprising a main section having springs therein for supporting the body of a person lying thereon, a head section at an end of the main section and swingable downwardly relative thereto and having springs therein for supporting the head of said person, means resiliently retaining said head section normally in a position substantially parallel with the main section, and means connected to the head section and positioned to be operable by the person lying on the main section for releasably adjusting said head section into different downwardly inclined positions.

4. A bed structure as claimed in claim 3 in which the means for releasably retaining the head section in downwardly inclined positions comprises a rack bar pivotally connected to the head section and extending past a stop carried by the main section, said bar having teeth therein for engaging said stop and arranged normally to prevent the head section from swinging upwardly and to permit said head section to swing downwardly, and operating means adjacent said bar for selectively freeing the teeth thereof from said stop to allow the head section to swing back to its parallel position, said operating means including handle means located at a side of the structure within reach of the person lying on the main section.

5. A bed structure comprising a main section having springs therein for supporting the body of a person lying thereon, a head section at an end of the main section and swingable downwardly relative thereto and having springs therein for supporting the head of said person, means resiliently retaining said head section normally in a position substantially parallel with the main section, a hydraulic cylinder connected to one of said sections and having a piston rod projecting therefrom and connected to the other of said sections, and a pump operatively connected to said cylinder by means of which the head section may be swung downwardly out of its parallel position, said pump being positioned at a side of the structure within reach of the person lying on the main section.

6. A bed structure comprising a main section having springs therein for supporting the body of a person lying thereon, a head section at an end of the main section and swingable downwardly relative thereto and having springs therein for supporting the head of said person, means resiliently retaining said head section normally in a position substantially parallel with the main section, a hydraulic cylinder connected to one of said sections and having a piston rod projecting therefrom and connected to the other of said sections, a pump operatively connected by a pipe system to said cylinder by means of which the head section may be swung downwardly out of its parallel position, said pump being positioned at a side of the structure within reach of the person lying on the main section and a valve-controlled by-pass in said pipe system at a side of the structure, operable to allow the head section to swing back to its parallel position.

7. A bed structure comprising a main section having springs therein for supporting the body of a person lying thereon, a head section at an end of the main section and swingable downwardly relative thereto and having springs therein for supporting the head of said person, means resiliently retaining said head section normally in a position substantially parallel with the main section, a hydraulic cylinder connected to one of said sections and having a piston rod projecting therefrom and connected to the other of said sections, a pump operatively connected by a pipe system to said cylinder by means of which the head section may be swung downwardly out of its parallel position, and a by-pass in the pipe system including a bleed valve, said bleed valve being adjustable to permit fluid to bleed therethrough at predetermined rates and thereby to permit the head section to return to its normal position substantially parallel with the main section at a predetermined rate.

8. A bed structure comprising a main section having an upper supporting surface and springs in the section for supporting the body of a person lying on said supporting surface, a head section at an end of the main section and swingable downwardly relative thereto and having an upper supporting surface normally substan tially parallel with the supporting surface of the main section, a hydraulic cylinder connected to one of said sections and having a piston rod projecting therefrom and connected to the other of said sections, a pump operatively connected by a pipe system to said cylinder by means of which the head section may be swung downwardly out of its parallel position, and a by-pass in the pipe system including a bleed valve, said bleed valve being adjustable to permit fluid to bleed therethrough at predetermined rates and thereby to permit the head section to return to its normal position substantially parallel with the main section at a predetermined rate.

9. A bed structure comprising a main section having an upper supporting surface and springs in the section for supporting the body of a person lying on said supporting surface, a head section at an end of the main section and swingable downwardly relative thereto and having an upper supporting surface normally substantially parallel with the supporting surface of the main section, a panel in the head section inclined upwardly from a lower edge at an end of said head section near the main section to an upper edge near an opposite end of the head section, the lower edge of the panel being mounted for limited sliding movement in the head section towards and away from the main section, spring means in the head section supporting the panel and normally retaining the panel in its inclined position, springs in the head section carried by the panel and holding the supporting surface of said head section in position, operating means connected to the panel by means of which said panel can be swung downwardly to move the supporting surface of the head section into a downwardly inclined position, and means for releasably retaining the panel with the head section supporting surface in different downwardly-inclined positions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,021,335 3/12 Robinson 5-77 X 1,073,194 9/13 Weirner 5-77 2,023,248 12/35 Skillman 5-91 X 3,032,059 5/62 McLeod 567 X 3,055,019 9/62 Agirnan 5-77 X FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A BED STRUCTURE COMPRISING A MAIN SECTION HAVING SPRINGS THEREIN FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY OF A PERSON LYING THEREON, A HEAD SECTION AT AN END OF THE MAIN SECTION AND SWINGABLE DOWNWARDLY RELATIVE THERETO AND HAVING SPRINGS THEREIN FOR SUPPORTING THE HEAD OF SAID PERSON, AND MEANS IN THE HEAD SECTION AND CO-OPERATING WITH THE SPRINGS THEREIN FOR SELECTIVELY SUPPORTING THE HEAD SECTION SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE PLANE OF THE MAIN SECTION OR IN A POSITION INCLINED DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM. 